Body measurements recording as an alternative to determine live weight and carcass performance of Macoei and Afshari sheep

In order to evaluate the relation between body measurements (body length, chest girth, body depth and rump width) with live weight and carcass traits (warm carcass weight, warm carcass efficiency, warm carcass without fat-tail weight and warm carcass without fat-tail efficiency), records from 100 (50 Macoei and 50 Afshari) male lambs were collected. The genetic group had a significant effect on the warm carcass efficiency and live weight; while, Afshari male lambs had higher efficiency. Body length was affected by genetic group; while, Afshari male lambs had bigger amounts. Both genetic groups had high correlations between chest girth × live weights, rump width × live weight, chest girth × warm carcass without fat-tail weight, live weight × warm carcass without fat-tail weight, warm carcass weight × warm carcass without fat-tail weight. The results showed that chest girth was the best index in predicting live weight at 6 months of age in both genetic groups. Considering the correlation between live weight and carcass traits at 6 months, live weight could be used to predict the warm carcass weight and warm carcass without fat-tail weight. Chest girth in Afshari and rump width in Macoei were suitable factors for predicting warm carcass weight and warm carcass without fat-tail weight.